Students are learning to write scripts and produce films as members of the Bulkeley Middle School film club. This is the first year of the club that meets each Tuesday after school.
“We get to make films; it’s really fun,” said seventh grader Charles Diesing. “It’s fun to see yourself doing funny things. I hope we can make films that I can be embarrassed about as a high schooler. They’re cringy and funny at the same time.”
Henry Frischknecht, club adviser, said filmmaking began two years ago with a group of students who wanted to do films during school. The films were done and a film festival was held at the end of the school year.
Frischknecht said actress Hilarie Burton played a big role in helping him get this started.
“She’s been wonderful in getting this off the ground,” he said.[IG1]
Frischknecht and Principal John Kemnitzer worked to make this a school club for the current school year.
“I hope they have fun,” said Frischknecht of his students.
Frischknecht added that students were working on a film to promote the hygiene closets in the school. The closets are filled by students in Frischknecht’s civic class with items such as soaps and toothbrushes for students to grab and share with their families.
“We do want to get films out that will be beneficial for the community,” said Frischknecht. “The hygiene closet is used, but we feel not enough people know that they can use it and what’s in it. They’re doing a film to promote that.[IG2] ”
Twin sisters and seventh graders Skye and Janey D’Ordine were sitting at desks writing a script. It’s the story of twin sisters being separated at birth by their grandmother.
“We started this off as a Hallmark movie and it turns into a crazy movie,” said Skye. “I love acting and writing scripts also is pretty fun, coming up with ideas for short films. It’s usually comedies; I love comedies.”
Janey added, “It’s not just about films. We get to hang out with nice people here.”